‘The Cyfarthfa Plan’ is an area masterplan for Cyfarthfa that was published in 2021. It establishes the framework for the long-term vision to transform a much-loved local landmark into a world-class museum, art gallery, and parkland. Our goal is to celebrate and showcase Merthyr Tydfil’s global history while creating a sustainable, green space that helps create new opportunities for future generations.
Reborn
How the Journey Began
In October 2017 over 60 experts and community groups came together to brainstorm ideas for Cyfarthfa’s future. The resulting 'Crucible' report recommended that a national centre for industrial heritage be created at Cyfarthfa.
Merthyr Tydfil Council enthusiastically backed the idea and internationally renowned Ian Ritchie Architects were appointed to lead the master-planning exercise.
In 2020 the team launched a bold, radical future vision for the area in ‘The Cyfarthfa Plan’. Merthyr Tydfil Council supported development of these plans for Cyfarthfa and agreed in principle to transfer the castle and park to a new charitable enterprise – The Cyfarthfa Foundation – when appropriate.
The vision
The vision set out in ‘The Cyfarthfa Plan’ is incredibly bold, compromising over 70 individual projects and proposing radical structural changes to the site. This included the expansion of Cyfarthfa to encompass the furnaces across the Valley, creating an enlarged park of 100 hectares. In today’s challenging economic climate, the Foundation’s job is to take those big ideas and turn them into affordable, deliverable strategic projects: planning, testing feasibility, and creating incremental positive change.
HEALING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
The story of the Merthyr valley has gone from "green to black to green again" as heavy industry came and went. The project will be delivered in line with sustainable development principles and from a position of global responsibility and environmental leadership. It will actively restore the landscape, supporting environmental and wellbeing through ecological development and the protection of historic assets. In doing so it will create a beautiful, natural space right on the community's doorstep, within which ongoing learning, engagement and discussion on the natural environment and climate can take place.
Culture, education & community
This project is about more than just buildings; it is about deep social renewal, cohesion and civic pride. We want Cyfarthfa to be shaped by the people of Merthyr, and for the community to be inspired to bring their own creativity, energy and personality. The project will support this through expanded spaces and public facilities for school trips and educational programmes; along with venues for local events, celebrations, and conferences – re-situating Cyfarthfa as an anchor site for life in the town.
Sustainability
Significantly increasing the visitor numbers to Cyfarthfa will have a positive impact on the nearby town centre, creating jobs, complementing other town centre and borough-wide developments and cementing Merthyr Tydfil’s growing reputation as the capital of the Heads of the Valleys and a destination for culture and heritage.
